So let’s try this again. My last attempted resulted in a blank page. Not amused…

If you find yourself here, I suspect it is because I may have left a review that might have irked you into saying “who is this “jstapny” chick anyway”; lol. First I must say if this is the case it is most likely due to my need to understand what I am reading. I can’t help but question what I don’t understand. If I am overly critical it is because I have found a plot hole or crater that I am trying to fill; more of that later. If it is not the case, I hope you are here because you found my review helpful. I really do try to be constructive.

But to fill you in a bit on who I am; simply put I am one of your audiences. I LOVE to read; it is my passion. I do not write fiction for obvious reasons. The primary being I lack creativity. I am a Business Analyst by trade and I’m also a Youth Minister. I was raised in Las Vegas, NV and believe I have a pretty high tolerance level for people and a good sense of humor because of my upbringing.

I discovered fan fiction the summer of 2009. Prior to this I had no idea that there were people who wrote stories based on their favorite TV shows. Nor was I aware of your propensity to ship major characters of these shows.

I was indoctrinated into this world when I stumbled on a story on my favorite show Law & Order Criminal Intent. I was surprised when the main characters were “shipped” at the end of my first story. Prior to this, I had NEVER considered them for a couple. Then I had my “ah ha” moment and can only read stories where they are together or not with anyone else, lol. But the funny thing is, while I love them together on “paper”, I do not envision them together on screen. Basically, I take what is given on screen as is and leave it at that which is pretty true for all shows I watch and read.

Next I ventured into my next favorite show NCIS and quickly fell in love with JIBBS. Although that was purely out of necessity since every Jenny stories winds up being JIBBS, lol. However, I truly started reading this show because of missing Jenny. I don’t read anything else. I simple never recovered from her “death” even though I knew Lauren Holly was leaving the show.

Now I am stuck on CSI: Las Vegas of course. I have been following this show since the first casting call was announced in the local papers, lol. With Marg Helgenberger leaving after this season I most likely will follow. I just loved her character since she truly had the “Vegas” background. However, when I first looked at this genre I was put off with all the Sara and GSR fics. She is one character I really can’t stand at all. Every time she left I cheered. She is a gnat to me that needs to be permanently swatted. Yep that is how I honestly feel.

I find myself branching out more and more to other shows now which is really bad for this new obsession. I find that I cannot go a day without reading something on this site. With my work, home and cell phone I am never without a “connection”.

So what kind of stories do I like? I really prefer multi-chapter fics to one-shots (but I will read these from “trusted” authors). I really love anything that makes me go “hmmm” and has me self evaluating my beliefs on something. Anything that makes me feel something will get extra special kudos from me. Because of this, I really appreciate descriptive stories-paint me a picture please. I also like angst if it has a point. Don’t depress me for the sake of being depressing if that makes sense; lol. AU stories are the best to me since they place characters in unfamiliar situation. I’ve already seen the episodes so if you are not adding anything to it I really don’t need to “read” it again. Just saying.

What don’t I like? Well I really dislike stories that are not realistic or rush to a happy ever after ending. Come on people, how can you have a character shot 9 times, stabbed 4 times, in a coma for a month but when the awaken the first thing they do is declare their undying love to someone and live happily ever after? Or how about those fics that have this secret kid and the father immediately forgives the betrayal and takes everyone in. Hey I am for “forgiveness” and everything but really when have you EVER seen this happen in real life? Or how about when a character goes through some major trauma, you name it (torture, death, divorce, etc.), but the recovery of that trauma is ignored. I could go on and on. Basically anything I read has to pass the “smell test” to me and if it doesn’t, I won’t like it. I need to be sold; so explain it to me and I most likely will buy it. Use the internet if you are unfamiliar with a medical procedure or legal process-do your research please.

Oh, for the record, and if you haven’t already figured it out, I have a really good memory so plot inconsistencies or holes really irk me. I have no problem recalling what is going on in a story no matter how many stories I am following or how long an update has been; plus I will reread if necessary. For this, may I offer some advice, if it has been a while since you have touched a story please read it before writing or posting another update because I will call you out on inconsistencies no matter how long it’s been.

I also do not like song fics (although I have read a couple that I have enjoyed-these actually had more story that song-hint) or any slash/femslash fics. Really sometimes I wonder what people are watching when they do this to obviously heterosexual characters. I guess it really doesn’t matter since I won’t read them anyway but I truly appreciate the warnings. But my biggest dislike is unfinished stories. I have several really, really good stories that I am still awaiting updates on. This makes me really sad.

And finally I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on those stories/authors that make my favorite list. These are the true gems to me and I often re-read some when there is a lack of quality updates on the shows I follow. No, I do not read everything that is posted. If you are a favorite author, then I trust your writing because you passed my “smell test”. While I would love to rank stories and authors, I don’t think it would be fair to me even though I think I have all time favorites for each show, lol.

Well those are the highlights. If you want to know anything else about me or just want to rip me for my opinion/review just PM me; I can take it, lol. I also don’t mind sharing my all-time favorites either.

Orchid Thief Universe: A collection of stories that follow Kelly Gibbs & Jenny Shepard on their unending path to overcome and cope with the damage inflicted by sexual violence. Spans a multitude of genres, really (fluff, humor, angst, romance, friendship). Myriad of tags. Pairing is Jibbs at most points.

AU Extreme circumstances bring about a fateful meeting between John and Joss. Both are reeling from loss, seeking to forget and move on with their lives. A chance encounter brings about the chance for healing, but something happens to change the course of their lives forever.

Jenny Shepard thought a 'Dear John' letter in Paris would put a clean cut end to their affair; however, neither she nor Leroy Jethro Gibbs could sever their ties in the wake of this unexpected, and unplanned, circumstances. AU. Incorporates Kate & Ziva.

He was pointing a gun at my chest. I didn't have time to react. End of the line for a good cop. I always saw myself that way. Know who always said that? Joss Carter. [The final moments of Detective Bill Szymanski. One-shot.]

She's decided she wants to know the sex of the baby, but when they get home, Gibbs is worried; it seems their half-puppy golden retriever is more excited about Jenny's ultrasound than she is. But what do ferrets have to do with it? LB/SF tag. Short, fluffy-ish, and typical LBSF Jenny-ish.

Carter finally gets Reese in handcuffs. If your mind went to the gutter, get it out! LOL... Carter has been avoiding Reese but now it's time to face him… Some romance for Carter and Reese… Some Carter for Reese

or, the story of the laundry debacle that turned everything pink and purple. When Levi is getting made fun of at school, Kelly calls her Dad to save the day. And in the mean time, why does Jenny keep finding tiny toy horses hidden in her things? LBSF tag. Pretty cutesy, I promise. Jenny/Gibbs.

Bobby & Alex in an established relationship... something big is about to turn their lives upside down. Also, several different cases to investigate. B/A, M/C pairings. Please read and review, I love to hear what people think!

A visit to the LBSF universe, in which Jenny informs her dear Gibbs that some aspects of their marriage have grown, er, monotonous. Or, that story where Gibbs is irrationally attached to his roast beef sandwich.

Ziva woke up in a dirty room in Somalia; to torture and suffering she had never known before. She believes she will die there, alone, but a vision of a friend helps her to cope. Jibbs, Tiva and Jenny/Ziva friendship.

Jenny has to make a decision that will change her and Gibbs' lives significantly and possibly forever. Also, changes in team relationships bring joy as well as difficulty. Sequel to A Price to Pay, third story in the Only in My Dreams Universe series. *DISCONTINUED* My sincerest apologies to all those following this story.

After two months spent in banishment on Staten Island, Bobby is looking for one thing: Forgiveness. What he finds could cost him everything, including his life. B/A relationship, B/M partnership, and Stabler and Benson from SVU stop by. Part 3 in series.

Set directly after the end of "Loyalty Part 2" season 9 . What did Eames do after she called the Chief of Detectives? Featuring my usual B/A established relationship, and an appearance by my OFC Lynn Collins, one of Alex's friends and colleagues.

Jen's high on painkillers. Implied character death with this one. Takes place some number of years after my WIP This Starts Here. It's not really necessary to have read that, though it would be helpful. French mistakes are Google's fault.

Somewhere along the way, our favorite ex-Marine had to discover his daughter wasn't a virgin-the fact that he held on to the belief that she was even after her two children...well, that is a whole different story. AU/LBSF Tag

A series of related one-shot moments chronicling Gibbs and Jenny's relationship from the night they start dating up until about the first five months of their marriage. Part of the Only In My Dreams universe, prequel to A Price to Pay.

Every year she recieves something from each of them. A DVD. A black rose. A long-stemmed lily. An awkward approach. A sentimental story. She longs for him and his white orchid. It's the only thing that keeps her alive- or dead- however you look at it.

Threats against an Ambassador send the Stetsons scrambling for answers. Can Lee and Amanda solve this puzzling case amidst Joe's anger, Francine's sarcasm, Agency gossip, and Dotty's inquisition? Can they manage to keep their secrets through all this?

This is what family does to you. Sequel to Stare Decisis. T for language--and now smut, in chapter five. Maybe not technically considered smut. Depends on what the strict definition of "smut" is. Whatever. There is sex to be had, people.

An AU of the crossover persuasion. A heartbreaking crime is perpetrated on Leroy Jethro Gibbs' daughter, leaving her with a broken childhood. SVU Detective Jennifer Shepard, fractured in her own right, vows to piece Kelly's life back. JIBBS, uniquely.

LB/SF Tag: AU. Jenny slips away from a crime scene in Arlington to pay a visit to her family; Tony stumbles in mid-respect paying. He's not silver-tongued when it comes to comfort, and maybe that's why she bothers to let him know. Pre-JIBBS.

The Czech Republic, Russia, Serbia, and ultimately, Paris again. Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Jenny Shepard are more lovers than partners, and yet they still have a job to do-a job that may very well tear them apart. This is their story...further continued.

The United States Botanical Gardens houses over 5,000 species of Orchids, rare and common. So if there's any place to woo your wayward redhead, look no further, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, you have arrived. An uncharacteristic bit of mush; JIBBS.

In any universe, Leroy Jethro Gibbs still likes redheads with long legs and boats in the basement. Likewise, Jennifer Shepard still likes high heels and fancy words. I've just thrown a daughter, a little boy, and a tragic past in the AU mix. JIBBS.

AU-Goren & Eames meet while Eames is still in the academy. A planned one-night stand leads to an attraction that neither can run from and leads to more than they ever bargained for. co-written with hargieteam42

A year after the horrific abduction by a psychotic serial killer, Bobby is once again being tortured, only this time by a vengeful killer who isn't after his life, but Eames. X-over with L&O:SVU. Part 2 in series.

An old girlfriend of Goren’s gets in trouble and it comes to light that her child may be his. This story links up to my story Good Intentions – starting about four months into B/A relationship/four years into B/A partnership.

Gibbs and his team step into the shadows to bait a trap. Danger and tests of loyalty await them. Their only guide is a woman with too many secrets and an agenda of her own. But, can they trust her? A Jibbs AU by Morgan72uk

Bobby and Cap Ross "talk" about why Ross held a grudge against Goren from Day One on his job. Bobby gets answers, but does he get a resolution? Spoilers for the entire series. Takes place in 8th season, AFTER beard.The Epilogue is POSTED- complete!

My Take On What Happened After The Screen Went Black in “The War at Home.” Something I wanted to happen. BA. More info inside. Warning: Ch. 8 is Rated M! Ch. 9 is up! Now Complete! Happy ending ensured.

A story about Amends. Takes place during the episode, missing scenes, and after the episode. The story IS COMPLETE - couple will continue in new story. Spoilers for some season six eps, too, such as War at Home and Endgame.

Sometimes in life someone comes along and gives you the one thing that you have always strived for, love. Before you click on the story I must warn you. A/U? Totally. B/A ship? Definitely. Bizarre? Yes. You have been warned, not for you please don't click

Summary: "Bobby is undercover with Narcotics, Alex is undercover with Vice, and neither one knows that the other exists; that is, until their worlds collide." Rated M in future chapters. B/A relationship, and includes Det. Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola from LO:SVU

An investigation forces Grissom to confront an old enemy... then being in the wrong place at the wrong time could cost dearly. Summary and title suck, but the story is better I promise. Please R&R. First CSI fic

..why Gil felt like a needle was poking at his chest or why he felt like he had plunged into hell when he saw Catherine at the restaurant. It was because Cupid had fired his smoking gun blindly, in the wrong direction.

An injury. A marriage that he doesn't want. A hostage situation. A revelation. The many twists and turns that it takes for Gilbert Grissom and Catherine Willows to come together. Grillows all the way. Reviews are much appreciated! --COMPLETE--

After an incident one night throws Jennifer Sheppard into the life she could have had, she has to try and figure out how to get back. But is the real question whether or not she wants to go back? Rated T for safety Jibbs

After months of no leads and a 'back burner' approach to the investigation surrounding two hanging murders in Central Park, a potential break appears in a very surprising location. Sequel to 'Vengeance.' BAish

It all started with Alex's sister taking her out to thank her for the surrogacy and bringing along a 'suitable' date. Things didn't quite go to plan - now Bobby and Alex are together and having to deal with the change in their relationship.

In the wake of the events of Covers, Goren and Eames must decide what to leave behind and what to shift as they learn to understand themselves, each other, and what is growing between them. Rated M for mature themes. BA the good stuff.

What if Bobby left Narcotics just before Alex’s husband was killed and had worked with him there? Would Bobby remember Alex being at the surprise party his squad-mates threw to celebrate his transfer to MCS? Now with new improved M rating.

AU Jibbs. Jennifer Sheppard has never worked for NCIS, never met Leroy Jethro Gibbs, but sometimes, the inevitable is hard to run from. Will they have their happily ever after this way round? Rating changed

Part 1 of my "Metamorphosis" series. Bobby's father's death triggers changes in his and Alex's lives. This was started before Frank made his first appearance, but I'm keeping what I wrote for Bobby's brother. I think it's more dramatic this way.

Goren and Eames are put undercover soon after Goren's return from suspension. Will feelings left under the surface bubble up to create a rift in their partnership or make them realize how much they mean to each other? BA the good stuff

Gil and Cath wake up in bed together, but have no idea how they got there. They then discover that Gil’s house is torn apart and decide to keep their night together a secret, while the entire team processes Gil's house to establish what really happened.

Women with red hair are being killed, the victims look a lot like the Director of NCIS and Gibbs doesn't believe in coincidences. This is going to get messy and complicated and it might not end well. Jibbs

Jen has been acting weird lately and when Gibbs finds out what she's hiding he's not sure whether to help her or not, since her secret might change his life as well. Turns out, Jen's keeping more than one secret from him.

A journey for Bobby and Alex as they deal with the turmoil caused by his drinking problem, but Alex has a couple of issues of her own. CHAPTERS 7 & 14 rated M for SEXUAL content. Chapter 26 picks up three years later.

FINISHED! Ch. 25 posted. Sequel to Spilled Blood. A prominent defense attorney is murdered in her own apartment. Can Goren and Eames solve the case while still hiding their relationship from the world? BA